Ahmad Saba'a

Ahmad Saba'a
Personal information
Full name	Ahmad Saba'a
Date of birth	24 May 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Majd al-Kurum, Israel
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Hapoel Bu'eine (manager)
Youth career
	Hapoel Majd al-Krum
Senior career*
Years	Team
1997–2002	Hapoel Majd al-Krum
2002–2003	Hapoel Acre
2003–2009	Hapoel Bnei Lod
2009–2013	Maccabi Netanya
2013–2014	Ironi Kiryat Shmona
2014	Hapoel Ra'anana
2014	Hapoel Bnei Lod
2014–2015	Ihud Bnei Majd al-Kurum
2015	Hilal Al-Quds
2015–2016	Hapoel Kafr Kanna
Managerial career
2014–2015	Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum
2016–2017	Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum
2017	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm
2019–2020	Hapoel Kafr Kanna
2020–	Hapoel Bu'eine
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ahmad Saba'a (or Ahmed Saba,^[1] Arabic: أحمد سبع, Hebrew: אחמד סבע; born 24 May 1980) is an Arab-Israeli former footballer.

Biography

Ahmad Saba'a was born in Majd al-Kurum, Israel, to a Muslim-Arab family.^[2] His cousin Dia Saba'a is a footballer as well.^[3]In 2010, Saba'a founded his own football school, operating in his hometown of Majd al-Kurum. The school has 180 protégés and its main goal is to bring local talent from Majd al-Kurum to the second and first division leagues in Israel.^[4] He is a cousin of Israeli professional footballer Dia Saba. ^[5]

Club career

Hapoel Majd al-Kurum

Ahmad grew up in the youth ranks of Hapoel Majd al-Krum and made his debut for the senior side in 1997. In 1999-00 he was one of the main players in the club's historic promotion to Liga Artzit. He left Majd al-Krum in 2002.

Hapoel Acre

Ahmad moved to Hapoel Acre after signing a one-year contract in July 2002. Even though he played well for the club with 10 goals in 20 league games, he didn't extended his contract with the club.

Hapoel Bnei Lod

In August 2003 he moved to Hapoel Bnei Lod. He helped Lod win two promotions, the first came in the 2004–05 season when the club won Liga Alef, the next season the club won Liga Artzit with Ahmad as one of the factors for the team's success. In 6 seasons with the club Saba'a scored 61 goals in 149 league games.

Maccabi Netanya

On 20 January 2009, Saba'a signed a one-year deal with Maccabi Netanya.^[6] His first goal for the club came against Sliema Wanderers in the UEFA Europa League on 23 July 2009. In his first season with Netanya he became the club's top scorer, a feat repeated the following three seasons. In June 2011 he extended his contract with the club for 3 more years under a new contract worth $390,000.^[7] In September 2011 he was appointed as the captain of the team.^[8] He was voted as player of the 2011–12 season while securing his position as the top goalscorer with 20 league goals.^[9] On 4 November 2012 he became the first to score a goal in the opening game of the new Netanya Stadium as Netanya won the game 2–1 against Hapoel Tel Aviv.^[10]

In 4 seasons with the club Saba'a scored 62 goals in a total of 153 games in all club competitions. Saba'a is in the top ten all time goalscorers of Maccabi Netanya.

Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona

On 16 May 2013, after 4 years with Netanya he moved to Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona for a transfer fee of $120,000. Saba'a signed a two years contract with Kiryat Shmona.^[11]

Hapoel Ra'anana

After a terrible half season with Kiryat Shmona, in January 2014 Saba'a moved to Hapoel Ra'anana.^[12] One month later he asked to be released from the club.^[13]

International career

After reaching the highest levels of Israeli domestic football, Saba'a has said that his goal is to one day play for the Israeli national football team.^[14] He has never featured for any national youth football teams. On 18 March 2012 after a lot of media coverage on the fact that he has yet been called for the national team, Saba'a was quoted that he will not play for the Palestine national side - "I won't play for Palestine because I'm an Israeli player".^[15]

Statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Israel			League		State Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
2006–07	Hapoel Bnei Lod	Liga Leumit	29	11	2	2	2	0	0	0	33	13
2007–08			30	6	0	0	10	2	0	0	40	8
2008–09			31	13	1	0	11	5	0	0	43	18
2009–10	Maccabi Netanya	Ligat ha'Al	26	9	1	0	2	1	3	1	32	11
2010–11			35	12	4	4	5	2	0	0	44	18
2011–12			33	20	3	2	3	0	0	0	39	22
2012–13			30	10	1	0	5	0	2	1	38	11
2013–14	Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona		6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
2013–14	Hapoel Ra'anana		3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
2014–15	Hapoel Bnei Lod	Liga Leumit	7	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	11	0
2014–15	Hapoel Majd al-Kurum	Liga Alef	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
2015	Hilal Al-Quds	West Bank Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
2015–16	Hapoel Kafr Kanna	Liga Alef	27	6	3	0	0	0	0	0	30	6

Honours

Team

Liga Alef (2):
- 1999-00 (Northern division), 2004-05 (Southern division)
Liga Bet (1):
- 2003-04
Liga Artzit (1):
- 2005-06

Individual

Sport 5 Player of the Season (1): 2011–12^[16]
Footballer of the Year in Israel (1): 2012^[17]
Israeli Premier League - 2011–12 Top Goalscorer (20 goals)

References

^ "ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל - Ahmad SABEA".
^ "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence".
^ "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence".
^ "סבע: ראובן נותן לנו את כולו, הוא יצליח בכל מקום". 19 November 2011.
^ Mendel, Jack (15 October 2018). "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
^ Blech, Dor (20 October 2009). אחמד סבע חתם במכבי נתניה [Ahmed Saba'a Signed With Maccabi Netanya] (in Hebrew). Walla!. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^ "אחמד סבע חתם ל-3 שנים בנתניה: אין מאושר ממני". 5 June 2011.
^ ארצי, שי (September 2011). "מכבי נתניה: אחמד סבע מונה לקפטן הקבוצה". Ynet.
^ "סבע השחקן, בן שמעון המאמן, הפועל האכזבה". 13 May 2012.
^ פורת, אבינעם (4 November 2012). "חנוכת בית, נתניה סטייל". Ynet.
^ "סבע חתם בק"ש: מבקש סליחה מאוהדי נתניה". 16 May 2013.
^ "אחמד סבע חתם לעונה וחצי בהפועל רעננה". 14 January 2014.
^ "אחמד סבע שוחרר מרעננה: לא היה לי טוב שם". 13 February 2014.
^ Artzi, Shai (20 October 2009). אחמד סבע: "חולם להגיע לנבחרת ישראל" [Ahmed Saba'a: "Dream of Making Israeli National Team"]. Yedioth Ahronoth (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 October 2009.
^ ארצי, שי (18 March 2012). "סבע: "אני שחקן ישראלי, לא אשחק בפלסטין"". Ynet.
^ "שחקן העונה: אחמד סבע - ספורט 5".
^ http://www.nrg.co.il/online/71/ART2/350/295.html ^{[bare URL]}

External links

Ahmad Saba'a – Israel Football Association league player details
Profile and statistics on One.co.il

[1] "ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל - Ahmad SABEA".

[2] "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence".

[3] "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence".

[4] "סבע: ראובן נותן לנו את כולו, הוא יצליח בכל מקום". 19 November 2011.

[background3-5] Mendel, Jack (15 October 2018). "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 4 September 2020.

[6] Blech, Dor (20 October 2009). אחמד סבע חתם במכבי נתניה [Ahmed Saba'a Signed With Maccabi Netanya] (in Hebrew). Walla!. Retrieved 19 January 2009.

[7] "אחמד סבע חתם ל-3 שנים בנתניה: אין מאושר ממני". 5 June 2011.

[8] ארצי, שי (September 2011). "מכבי נתניה: אחמד סבע מונה לקפטן הקבוצה". Ynet.

[9] "סבע השחקן, בן שמעון המאמן, הפועל האכזבה". 13 May 2012.

[10] פורת, אבינעם (4 November 2012). "חנוכת בית, נתניה סטייל". Ynet.

[11] "סבע חתם בק"ש: מבקש סליחה מאוהדי נתניה". 16 May 2013.

[12] "אחמד סבע חתם לעונה וחצי בהפועל רעננה". 14 January 2014.

[13] "אחמד סבע שוחרר מרעננה: לא היה לי טוב שם". 13 February 2014.

[14] Artzi, Shai (20 October 2009). אחמד סבע: "חולם להגיע לנבחרת ישראל" [Ahmed Saba'a: "Dream of Making Israeli National Team"]. Yedioth Ahronoth (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 October 2009.

[15] ארצי, שי (18 March 2012). "סבע: "אני שחקן ישראלי, לא אשחק בפלסטין"". Ynet.

[16] "שחקן העונה: אחמד סבע - ספורט 5".

[17] ttp://www.nrg.co.il/online/71/ART2/350/295.html ^{[bare URL]}

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